Carlos brings two decades of experience in the planning space working for large, big box retailers as well as small startups in the retail, wholesale, and digital channels.
Starting his 13-year career at the Walt Disney Company as a way to pay for school, he was soon promoted to team leader at Disneyland resort with responsibility for 50% of the park’s retail operations. Working full time while carrying a full class load, Carlos graduated with a BA in business from California State University and was promoted into the executive training program as an analyst in the Disney’s newly created planning department, where he rapidly progressed into management roles. His success at Disney led to senior planning positions at fast-fashion retailer Wet Seal, and music industry icon Guitar Center.
Recruited to St. John Knits in 2008, Carlos was instrumental in guiding the company through the financial crisis. He leveraged his expertise in inventory and cash management while expanding the existing but underutilized Outlet division beyond just a point of distribution to move the Full Price Boutique’s overstocked inventory resulting in an unprecedented double-digit sales and margin growth in the outlet division.
Carlos has a long history of generating impressive results at startups and established multibillion-dollar global businesses, including omnichannel retailers Cali & York, Sears Holdings, and wholesaler Z Supply. Carlos’ experience is focused on optimization of inventory levels across digital and brick and mortar channels and implementing key controls such as open-to-buy and assortment planning strategies to maximize SKU productivity.
His core competencies are synthesizing and interpreting large data sets through native and prepackaged ERP/Planning platforms in tandem with MS Excel and visualization tools. Carlos is a true hands-on operator, solving problems from the ground up, delivering concise data driven insights and recommendations to senior executives and stakeholders.